ARIZONA CONSIDERING REDUCTION IN CRIMINAL AND DUI SENTENCING

News Article By: James Novak, Arizona DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney
Arizona Fox News reported on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 that lawmakers have advised that serious consideration is being made by legislators to reduce criminal and DUI sentencing as one effort to save Arizona money, and reduce Arizona budget deficits. The cost to house just one prisoner annually is between $20,000.00 and $30, 000.00. The Arizona prison population continues to grow and they are looking for a way to reduce and slow prison population and costs.

At least one legislator expressed an opinion shared by many, that the Arizona incarceration facilities and prisons are filled with people that really do not need to be there. One Arizona representative was quoted as saying “Some people need to be locked up to protect the public, some don’t need to be locked up”.